Local wireless network system for cellular telephones

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a wireless network system, which comprises at least one wireless instrument (e.g. a cellular telephone) in combination with at least one cradle (e.g. a telephone cradle), said cradle comprising a wireless local area network (WLAN) interface. The WLAN interface, which interfaces to a WLAN, allows the cradle to communicate with a controller. In turn, the controller communicates with a base station of a wireless communications network. In a variation of the exemplary embodiment, a wired local area network (LAN) can be utilized rather than the WLAN. Alternatively, the present invention supports point-to-point communication configurations between each wireless cellular telephone and the controller. Typically, the base station is owned and operated by wireless service provider. The wireless service provider directly supports service for the wireless cellular telephone when the telephone is not operating in conjunction with the wireless network system.

[0001] This application claims priority to provisional U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 60/337,583 (“A Local Wireless Network System forCellular Telephones”), filed Dec. 5, 2001.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to networking wireless cellulartelephones with a controller.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Briefly, the present invention is a wireless network system,which comprises a least one wireless instrument (e.g. a wirelesscellular telephone) in combination with at least one cradle (e.g. atelephone cradle), said cradle comprising a wireless local area network(WLAN) interface. The WLAN interface, which interfaces to a WLAN, allowsthe cradle to communicate with a controller. In turn, the controllercommunicates with a base station of a wireless communications network.In a variation of the exemplary embodiment, a wired local area network(LAN) can be utilized rather than the WLAN. Alternatively, the presentinvention supports point-to-point communication configurations betweeneach wireless cellular telephone and the controller. Typically, the basestation is owned and operated by wireless service provider. The wirelessservice provider directly supports service for the wireless cellulartelephone when the telephone is not operating in conjunction with thewireless network system.

[0004] The system contemplates two or more wireless cellular telephones,each wireless cellular telephone having its own wireless telephonenumber and two or more cradles for receipt, each cradle adapted toreceive a wireless cellular telephone. Each cradle includes anelectrical connection for charging the wireless cellular telephone aswell as a telephone jack connection and means to integrate the wirelesscellular telephone into a local area network comprising wirelesscellular telephones and compatible cradles. One or more cradles may actas a controller for the local area network.

[0005] Generally each of the wireless cellular telephones shall besubscribed in the same network; however, multiple networks may beaccommodated by the system when the home site controller is utilized tocontrol the local area network. Thus, the home site controller in suchcircumstances enables use of multiple subscribers to multiple networks.

[0006] The embodiment of the invention may support different wirelessservices that encompass voice services and data services, and thus maysupport voice calls, data calls, and calls that integrate both voice anddata services.

[0007] Various variations of the exemplary embodiment are disclosedincluding:

[0008] 1. A system where one or more of the cellular telephonescommunicates directly with a remote base station for outgoing callsonly;

[0009] 2. A system where one or more of the cellular telephones connectswith the wireless local area network only with respect to incomingcalls;

[0010] 3. A system where one or more of the cellular telephones connectswith the wireless local area network when the cellular telephone iswithin a proscribed proximity of the wireless local area network;

[0011] 4. A system where one or more of the cellular telephones connectswith the wireless local area network only upon mechanical and/orelectrical engagement of the cellular telephone with an element of thewireless local area network;

[0012] 5. A system wherein one or more cellular telephones communicatesthrough a controller of the wireless local area network for outgoingcalls when the cellular telephone has been integrated mechanically,electrically, or by proximity into the wireless local area network;

[0013] 6. A system wherein at least two individual wireless cellulartelephones communicate wirelessly via a base station for outgoing callsand via said base station for incoming calls through any one of aplurality of cradles provided at said home site provided that thewireless cellular telephone has mechanically, electronically or byvirtue of proximity been linked to the cradle;

[0014] 7. A system wherein at least two individual wireless cellulartelephones in any of the previously described systems:

[0015] (a) communicate directly and wirelessly through a local areanetwork at the home site

[0016] (b) indicate via indicator or sensor on the wireless cellulartelephone about

[0017] (i) available lines in use and/or

[0018] (ii) unavailable lines in use

[0019] (c) incorporate speaker telephone capability via one or morecradles at a home site

[0020] (d) employ controls on the wireless cellular telephone or cradleto lock out participation by the wireless cellular telephone in thesystem or lock out audio ringing of the wireless cellular telephone; and

[0021] 8. A variation of the embodiment wherein a controller and awireless instrument each supports a wireless network interface. With thevariation of the embodiment, the wireless instrument communicatesdirectly with the controller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022]FIG. 1 shows an architecture for a local wireless network systemin accordance with the present invention;

[0023]FIG. 2 shows a second architecture for a local wireless networksystem;

[0024]FIG. 3 is a flow diagram for registering a wireless cellulartelephone with a local wireless network system; and

[0025]FIG. 4 is a flow diagram for processing an incoming call to alocal wireless network system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026]FIG. 1 illustrates an architecture of wireless network system 100in accordance with the present invention. Wireless network system 100comprises wireless instruments (e.g. cellular telephones) 101 and 105,cradles 103 and 107, wireless local area network (WLAN) 109, andcontroller 111. Wireless cellular telephone 101 communicates with cradle103 through a cordless telephone channel 113. Wireless cellulartelephones 101 and 105 can operate outside wireless network system 100in which the wireless cellular telephones communicate directly with basestation 115 over control radio channel 117 and traffic radio channel119. However, when wireless cellular telephones are operating withinwireless network system 100, controller 111 communicates over controlradio channel 117 and traffic radio channel 119 in order to provideservice for the wireless cellular telephones.

[0027] A sensor in cradle 103 or 107 detects when wireless cellulartelephone 101 or 105 is situated in a cradle, thus causing a message tobe sent from the cradle to controller 111 over wireless local areanetwork (WLAN) 109 through WLAN interfaces 110, 112, and 114. (Themessage notifies controller 111 of the presence of wireless cellulartelephone 103 or 107 in accordance with a registration procedure that isdiscussed with FIG. 3.) WLAN 109 can assume different configurationsincluding IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)802.11 wireless local area network and HomeRF Working Group's SharedWireless Access Protocol (SWAP). Alternatively, WLAN 109 can be replacedby a wired configuration such as existing telephone wiring in the house.

[0028] When wireless cellular telephone 101 or 105 is registered atcontroller 111, communications between base station 115 and the wirelesscellular telephone is processed through controller 111 as discussed inthe context of FIGS. 3 and 4. (When a wireless cellular telephone isregistered with controller 111, the wireless cellular telephone isreferred as being in the “local mode”; otherwise, the wireless cellulartelephone is referred as being in the “normal mode.”) For example, withany incoming calls for wireless cellular telephone 101 or 105 (whenregistered with controller 111), controller 111 processes control radiochannel 117 for paging the wireless cellular telephone and processestraffic radio channel 119 for transporting user information. Userinformation can include voice information or data information or both.When wireless cellular telephone 101 or 105 is in the local mode, anypaging message (over control radio channel 117) that identifies thetelephone number of the wireless cellular telephone is recognized bycontroller 111 as an incoming call for the registered wireless cellulartelephone 101 or 105. Consequently, controller 111 generates a messageto all registered wireless cellular telephone through the correspondingcradles in order to alert all the registered wireless cellulartelephones. Wireless cellular telephone 101 is alerted through cordlessradio channel 113. As an example, if wireless cellular telephone 101 ispaged and wireless cellular telephones 101 and 105 are registered,controller 111 alerts both wireless cellular telephones 101 and 105 ofthe incoming call. When either wireless cellular telephone 101 or 105answers the incoming call, a message is sent to controller 111 over WLAN109 to establish the call to base station 115 over traffic radio channel119. Once the call is established, messaging carries user information(such a voice information) that is sent over WLAN 109 to complete thecall to the wireless cellular telephone.

[0029] The present invention can supports a plurality of traffic radiochannels so that a plurality of simultaneous calls can occur at the sametime for a plurality of registered wireless cellular telephone such 101and 105. As an example, wireless cellular telephone 101 may becommunicating with one external telephone while wireless cellulartelephone 105 may be communicating with a second external telephone at agiven instance of time. Moreover, the present invention can supportvertical services such as conferencing, call forwarding, and speeddialing as well as other local services such as intercom.

[0030] In the exemplary embodiment, when wireless cellular telephone 101or 105 requests for an outgoing call, the wireless cellular telephone isde-registered (as discussed in FIG. 3), and the wireless cellulartelephone operates in the normal mode (i.e. a outgoing call isestablished directly between the wireless cellular telephone and basestation 115). However, the present invention supports variations of theembodiment in which the wireless cellular telephone remains in the localmode. In such cases, wireless cellular telephone 101 or 105 sends arequest for an outgoing call through WLAN 109 to controller 111.Consequently, controller 111 establishes a call over traffic radiochannel 119, utilizing control radio channel 117.

[0031] Controller 111 can interface to public switching telephonenetwork (PSTN) 131 through line 133 in order to support the convergenceof wireless and wireline services. If wireless cellular telephone 101 or105 is registered with controller 111, a call with a wireless cellulartelephone and PSTN 131 can be established.

[0032] Indicators 121 and 123 provide an indication of whether wirelesscellular telephone 101 and 105 are in the local mode or in the normalmode. Moreover, indicators 121 and 123 can provide status of otherwireless cellular telephones.

[0033]FIG. 2 shows a second architecture of wireless network system 200.FIG. 2 is differentiated from FIG. 1 in that WLAN 109 is replaced by apoint-to-point configuration comprising link 209 and 210. Thepoint-to-point configuration can assume different configurations,including a wired configuration or a wireless configuration such as aconfiguration in accordance with the Bluetooth specification.

[0034]FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram for registering wireless cellulartelephone (mobile) 101 or 105 with controller 111. In step 301, wirelesscellular telephone 101 or 105 is placed into cradle 103 or 107. Thecradle detects the presence of the wireless cellular telephone through amechanical or electrical contact. If this is the case, the wirelesscellular telephone is registered with controller 111 in step 303. When awireless cellular telephone registers, the corresponding telephonenumber of the wireless cellular telephone and the corresponding cradleis recorded. Step 305 determines if the wireless cellular telephone iscurrently on a call. If so, the wireless cellular telephone cannot bede-registered. If the wireless cellular telephone is not active with acall, then the wireless cellular telephone can be de-registered (as instep 313) by the user manually de-registering the wireless cellulartelephone in step 307. Also, if the wireless cellular telephone is notin the proximity of the corresponding cradle the wireless cellulartelephone is de-registered in step 309. In step 311, if the wirelesscellular telephone requests an outgoing call, the wireless cellulartelephone is de-registered. In other words, the wireless cellulartelephone operates in the normal mode for outgoing calls. However, othervariations of the embodiment support outgoing calls in which thewireless cellular telephone operates in the local mode. Typically, theprocess, as depicted by the flow diagram in FIG. 3, is implemented incontroller 111.

[0035]FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram for processing an incoming call.However, the present invention can support a plurality of simultaneousincoming calls if controller 111 supports a plurality of traffic radiochannels. In step 401, controller 111 receives notification of anincoming call over control radio channel 117. In step 403, controller111 determines if the wireless cellular telephone is registered. If so,the wireless cellular telephone is alerted through the correspondingcradle over the cordless telephone channel in step 405. In step 407, ifthe wireless cellular telephone is the first wireless cellular telephoneto answer, an incoming call is established to the wireless cellulartelephone. Otherwise, the process returns to step 401. The call isestablished in the conversation state in step 409 in which userinformation is transported on WLAN 109 or links 209 and 210. Userinformation can correspond to voice, data, or a combination of both. Instep 411, if the end of the incoming call is detected. The processreturns to step 401.

[0036] The embodiment of the invention may support different wirelessservices that encompass voice services and data services, and thus maysupport voice calls, data calls, and calls that integrate both voice anddata services.

[0037] With a variation of the embodiment, a controller and a wirelessinstrument each supports a wireless network interface. The wirelessinstrument communicates directly with the controller so that a cradlefor the wireless instrument may not be required in the configuration.

[0038] As can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, a computersystem with an associated computer-readable medium containinginstructions for controlling the computer system can be utilized toimplement the exemplary embodiments that are disclosed herein. Thecomputer system may include at least one computer such as amicroprocessor, digital signal processor, and associated peripheralelectronic circuitry.

[0039] It is to be understood that the above-described embodiment ismerely an illustrative principle of the invention and that manyvariations may be devised by those skilled in the art without departingfrom the scope of the invention. It is, therefore, intended that suchvariations be included with the scope of the claims.

We claim:
 1. A wireless network system for supporting at least onewireless instrument, the wireless network system comprising: a localnetwork; a first cradle that holds a first wireless instrument and thatcommunicates with the first wireless instrument over a first localwireless channel when the first wireless instrument functions in a localmode state; and a controller that connects to the first cradle throughthe local network in order to communicate with the first wirelessinstrument when the first wireless instrument is engaged with the firstcradle and that communicates with a base station over a first radiochannel, wherein the base station provides wireless service for thefirst wireless instrument.
 2. The wireless network system of claim 1,wherein the first wireless instrument is engaged with the first cradlecorresponding to an occurrence selected from the group consisting of amechanical engagement with the first cradle, an electrical engagementwith the first cradle, and being located in close proximity to the firstcradle.
 3. The wireless system of claim 1, further comprising: a secondcradle that holds a second wireless instrument and that communicateswith the second wireless instrument over a second local wireless channelwhen the second wireless instrument functions in the local mode state.4. The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein the controllerinterfaces to a public switching telephone network (PSTN).
 5. Thewireless network system of claim 1, wherein the local network comprisesa wireless local area network (WLAN).
 6. The wireless network system ofclaim 5, wherein the WLAN supports a specification selected from thegroup consisting of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers(IEEE) 802.11 and HomeRF Working Group's Shared Wireless Access Protocol(swap).
 7. The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein the localnetwork supports a point-to-point configuration.
 8. The wireless networksystem of claim 7, wherein the point-to-point configuration is supportedin accordance with a Bluetooth specification.
 9. The wireless networksystem of claim 1, wherein the local network comprises a wiredconfiguration.
 10. The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein thecontroller determines that the first wireless instrument is functioningin the local mode state when the first wireless instrument is registeredwith the controller.
 11. The wireless network system of claim 10,wherein the controller de-registers the first wireless instrument. 12.The wireless network system of claim 1, wherein the first wirelessinstrument and the second wireless instrument communicate with eachother through the local network in order to support a wireless service.13. The wireless network system of claim 3, wherein the second wirelessinstrument communicates with the first cradle through a third localwireless channel.
 14. The wireless network system of claim 1, whereinthe controller communicates with the base station over a second radiochannel in order to support simultaneous calls.
 15. The wireless networksystem of claim 1, wherein the first cradle recharges a battery of thefirst wireless instrument.
 16. The wireless network system of claim 1,wherein the first wireless instrument is selected from the groupconsisting of a wireless telephone, a computer, and a personal digitalassistant.
 17. A method for networking a plurality of wirelessinstruments through a local network in order to support wireless servicefor the plurality of wireless instruments, the wireless service beingsupported by a base station, the method comprising: (a) registering afirst wireless instrument of the plurality of wireless instruments at acontroller of the local network; (b) receiving an indicator of anincoming call for one of the plurality of wireless instruments; (c) inresponse to receiving an indicator of the incoming call, initiatingringing at the first wireless instrument; (d) if the first wirelessinstrument goes off hook before the other wireless instruments of theplurality of wireless instruments, completing the incoming call to thefirst wireless instrument.
 18. The method of claim 17, furthercomprising: (e) in response to (b), if a second wireless instrument isde-registered, not initiating ringing at the second wireless instrument.19. The method of claim 17, wherein (a) comprises: if the first wirelessinstrument is engaged with a first cradle, registering the firstwireless instrument.
 20. The method of claim 17, wherein (a) comprises:if the first wireless instrument requests to be de-registered;de-registering the first wireless instrument.
 21. The method of claim17, wherein (a) comprises: if the first wireless instrument is not inclose proximity to a cradle, de-registering the first wirelessinstrument.
 22. The method of claim 17, wherein (a) comprises: if thefirst wireless instrument requests an outgoing call, de-registering thefirst wireless instrument.
 23. A wireless instrument that interacts witha wireless network system in order to support wireless services with abase station, the wireless instrument comprising: a radio channel modulethat communicates with the base station over a radio channel in order tosupport the wireless services when the wireless instrument isfunctioning in a normal mode state; a local wireless module thatcommunicates with the wireless network system through a local networkover a local wireless channel in order to support the wireless serviceswhen the wireless instrument is functioning in a local mode state; and aprocessor that determines to activate the local wireless module whenfunctioning in the local mode state, the processor configured to performthe steps of: (a) registering with the wireless network system; (b)receiving an instruction to initiate ringing in response to a deliveryattempt of an incoming call; (c) completing the incoming call with thewireless network system through the local wireless module; and (d) ifthe wireless instrument enters into the normal mode state,de-registering with the wireless network system.
 24. The wirelessinstrument of claim 23, further comprising: a display module thatindicates whether the wireless instrument is functioning in either thelocal mode state or the normal mode state.
 25. A wireless networkcontroller for supporting at least one wireless instrument, the wirelessnetwork controller comprising: a radio module that communicates with abase station over a radio channel; a wireless network module thatcommunicates with a wireless instrument, wherein the wireless instrumentis one of the at least one wireless instrument; and a processor thatinterfaces with the radio module and the wireless network module, theprocessor configured to perform the steps of: (a) registering thewireless instrument through the local network module; (b) receiving anindicator of an incoming call for the wireless instrument; (c) inresponse to step (a) and step (b), sending an instruction to initiateringing for a delivery attempt of the incoming call; (d) completing theincoming call with the wireless terminal through the local networkmodule; and (e) in response to determining that the wireless instrumentis not functioning in a local mode state, de-registering the wirelessinstrument.